Hundreds in community show support as family honors teen killed during visit to Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Several businesses and hundreds of people came together in support of a young man’s family after he was tragically killed two weeks ago while visiting family in the Hostess City.

Tyesha Abdullah and her family lost their loved one to senseless gun violence. On December 14th, Antonio Thornton Jr.’s body was found inside a Bloomingdale apartment complex. His family calls him TJ.

Previous coverage: www.wtoc.com/2025/12/19/you-took-somebody-who-was-loved-grieving-mother-seeks-answers-after-17-year-old-son-killed-bloomingdale/

TJ was visiting from north of Atlanta to see family in Savannah when he was shot and killed. The GBI released that 16-year-old Franklin Leonard James Jr. was arrested for his murder.

Today, his family held a graduation homegoing ceremony in his honor, as TJ was set to graduate in May.

Henry Street Bistro hosted today’s event for the family, saying it was meant to help them during such a tragic time.

The community came together to make the day possible, with decorations, catering, backdrops, tables, chairs, food, a photo booth, and more, all donated so the family could simply focus on honoring TJ.

Many people attended wearing shirts with TJ on them.

Family members say the holidays were especially hard, and they are grateful to be able to honor him in this way.

TJ’s mother, Tyesha Abdullah, says the support from Savannah has meant everything to her.

“Savannah alone, they have come out and helped me. They have supported me,” Abdullah said. “They donated to a GoFundMe. They sent prayers, text messages. It was just so much love and support from them.”

Abdullah also shared a message calling for an end to gun violence.

“I also want to say, stop the gun violence. You don’t want to be crying like me. I cry every second for my child,” she said. “If you have a child that’s dealing with guns and gun violence, hanging with the wrong crowd, you should stop it. Show them me — a grieving mother that’s hurting, that won’t see her child ever again. I won’t get a text message or call or anything.”

She says what she does have right now is love and support from the city of Savannah and beyond.

The business manager of Henry Street Bistro says donating the venue free of charge was about taking stress off the family.

“The only thing the family needed to do was just show up. Just show up, that’s it,” said Jacqueline Smomesso, business manager at Henry Street Bistro. “Because we know that this was already extreme for them. That they already had enough on their plate just to plan his funeral. So we wanted to take all the stress away from them and that’s what we’re here for.”

The family is now planning TJ’s funeral, and many people in the community have been donating to help put him to rest. If you would like to help, you can find the link here.